Barcelona put plans to permanently sign on-loan star on hold as doubts grow

There was a time this season when Barcelona were seriously considering a permanent move for Joao Felix, but a report from SPORT has now emerged, saying that the technical staff now has reservations over his continuity which is why negotiations with Atletico Madrid are at a standstill.

Regarding Felix, an internal debate is in process, and as of today, the team is not interested in signing him permanently.

Felix did make a strong start to his new life in Barcelona, but his effect now seems to be fading. He hasn’t been making a noticeable impact and he has once again displayed the inconsistency that has been a part of his career. 

Now, Barcelona had initially planned to discuss his contract extension in January, but as of now, those talks have been put on hold.

Maybe Xavi was right after all

During the summer transfer window, there were differences of opinion regarding the choice of players at Barcelona. Xavi wanted a dynamic winger or an attacking midfielder, but the club decided to go for Felix instead, especially after Ousmane Dembele left. 

Now, it was a decision made by the board and the sports department, with the hope that Felix would perform exceptionally well for Barcelona. 

Above all, his willingness to join and the reasonable cost were significant factors, despite concerns about his sporting abilities.

Barcelona continue to have hope

While Felix started quite impressively, his performance has faded since December and that has coincided with the team’s lacklustre form. The 24-year-old on-loan star has seen his role in the team diminish in the last few matches.

It is to be noted that Jorge Mendes, Felix’s agent, wanted to start negotiations between the clubs after the January transfer window. 

Atletico asked for a high transfer fee for the next summer, but Barcelona had clear conditions for his stay: they would only extend the loan with an option to buy in 2025, and the price was much lower than what Atletico wanted.

Meanwhile, despite his current struggles, some within Barcelona are confident that he will recover and help win titles. 

Considering their financial situation, they see him as a valuable player, but for now, negotiations are on hold, and there’s no rush.

Everything depends on the player’s performance, and decisions will likely be made by the end of the year.